Vending machine



7 Feb. 6, 1940. B. E. MILLS VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 9 SheetsSheet 1 Feb. 6, 1940. 5 MlLLs 2,189,740

vnumne MACHINE Filed Dec. 2%, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1940. MMS 2,189,740

VENDING MACHINE Filed Deb. 27, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 B. E. MILLS VENDING MACHINE Feb. 6, 1940.

Filed Dec. 27, 1935- 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 6, 1940. M LL 2,189,740

VENDING MACHINE Filed D90. 27, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZFerl 677771714. E CLJM fnfenfve v Feb; 6, 1940. B. E. MILLS VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 9 sheets-sheet e Feb, 6, 1940. a E, M s 2,189,740

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 1 174* 17/ r /35 Z56 I74- K V #9 o 17,; 174 I62 617 17 Wife 2175/ Feb. 6 1940.

a. E. MILLS VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2'7, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 o kbN hww ciimw I Feb. 6, 1940.

B. E. MILLS 2,189,740

VENDING MACHINE FiledDec 27, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I Patented 'Feb. 6, 1940 VENDING? MACHINE Ben E. Mills, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,367

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the type which are adapted to dispense merchandise in bottled or package orm.

An important object of the invention is to provide a control device for the vending mechanism which may be set to automatically prevent further operation of the machine after the reserve supply of packages in the machine has become reduced to a predetermined number.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means for automatically transferring the bottles from a movable carrier upon which the bottles are S pported to a. delivery device which directs them through a discharge port formed in a wall of the cabinet which encloses the vending mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved self-locking closure means for the discharge port in the cabinet wall which prevents a person from pilfering from the machine by forcing open the closure means and reaching through the discharge port to thepackages stored within the cabinet. 1

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accom-. panying drawings wherein I have shown the preferred form in which 1 have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view ofthe machine as viewed fromtheright hand side of Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. D Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the movable carrier and the drive means therefor;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower portion of the carrier;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the carrier and bottle dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the mechanism for removing the bottles from the trays or cradles of the carrier; I r

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the mechanism for removing the bottles from the carrier and delivering the same from the machine, the section v being taken on 'line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the automatic switch mechanism which controls the drive motor for the carrier;

Fig. 10 is a detail section through the automatic cut-out switch mechanism taken on line III-l of Fig. 9;

Fig.'11 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the parts which direct the bottles from the carrier through a discharge chute formed in a wall of the cabinet;

Fig. 12 is abroken transverse vertical section through the refrigerating and storage cabinet, the bottle vending portion of the apparatus being omitted so as to more clearly illustrate the path of air flow inthe cabinet; and

Fig. 13 is a wiring. diagram of the electrical control circuits which are provided for regulating the operation of the carrier drive motor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first particularly to Figs. 1-3, the apparatus is enclosed in a cabinet which in the embodiment shown is rectangular in shape, the front and back walls thereof bein ndicate'd by the numerals I and I6 (Fig. 1 J, respectively, and the side walls of said cabinet being indicated by the numerals I] and I8. The bottom wall of the cabinet, which is indicated at I9, is provided on its lower surface with a rim or strip 2| which extends completely around the bottom wall I9 and serves as a footing to hold the main portion of the cabinet a slight distance from the floor.

e top of the cabinet is closed by a top wall or cover 22 (Fig. 3) which rests on the upper edges of the walls I5, I6, I! and I8. As will more fully hereinafter appear, the compartment formed by the walls I5, I6, I! and I8, together with the bottom wall I9 and the top wall 22, serves' as a combined storage and refrigerating cabinet for the bottles which are to .)e dispensed. The construction of these walls is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 12, each wall consisting of inner and outer sheet metal plates 23 and 24 which are separated by'a body of heat insulating material 25 which may consist of cork, com- The door 26 and the panel .the storage of bottles.

of a series of trays or cradles 29 which are hung between a pair of endless carrier chains 3! and 32 (Fig. 8). Each of the trays 29 consists of a curved plate 33, which may be made of sheet metal, or the like, and a pair of upwardly projecting arms 34 which are apertured to receive pins 35, the latter being carried by blocks 56 which are fixedly secured to the. links of the carrier chains. The curved plates 33 of the trays are shaped to conform to the contour of the bottles '5 resting thereon, and the free pivotal support for the trays provided by arms 34 and pins 35 insures that the tray will always be in position so that the bottle will not roll therefrom.

Continuing the reference to Figs. 3-5, the carrier chains 36 and 32 (Fig. 8) are arranged to efiiciently utilize the space which is available for To this end said chains are arranged transversely of the cabinet in a series of eight vertical flights, being supported in the cabinet on a heavy frame consisting of an upper pair of cross bars 38 and a lower pair of cross bars 39. The bars 38 and 39 are tied together by vertically disposed tie rods 40 and by transversely disposed tie rods 4|. Rods 46 and fihtogether with bars 38 and 39, form a rigid frame which may be removed bodily from the cabinet through the opening provided by door 26 and panel 2?. The upper pair of bars 38 carry three pairs of idler sprockets 42 and one pair of drive sprockets 43. The sprockets 42 are carried on stub shafts 44 which are journalled for free rotation in the frame bars 38. The drive sprock-' ets 49 are fixedly secured to a drive shaft 45 which extends between cross bars 38. The lower pair of cross bars 39 are provided with three pairs of idler sprockets 46, which are journalled in said bars by stub shafts 41. Two additional pairs of idler sprockets 48 are journalled in the bars 39 below, and outside of, the sprockets 46..

The carrier chains 3i and 32 take over sprockets 42 and 43 at the top of the cabinet and also take over sprockets 46 and 48 at the bottom of the cabinet, the several sprockets being so positioned that the chains will move downwardly from drive sprockets 43 around the lower sets of sprockets 48 and thence upwardly around the pair of sprockets 42 positioned at the extreme left in Fig. 4, from which point the chains pass alternately up and down between sprockets 42 and 46 back to drive sprockets 43. The path of travel of the carrier chains is clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. Pairs of small idler sprockets 56 (Fig. 5) are provided to support the lower run of the chains extending between sprockets 48. Power for driving sprockets 43 is supplied by an electric motor 49 which is bolted to a base plate 5f, the latter in turn being pivotally connected by a bolt 52 to a frame bracket 53. The armature shaft of motor 49 connects through gears (not shown) contained in a housing 54 with a shaft 55, the forward end of which is journalled in a bearing bracket 56 which projectsupwardly from the motor base plate 5i. Shaft 55 carries a small sprocket 51 and shaft 45 is provided at its-forward end'with a large sprocket 58. 51 and 58 are connected by achain 59. A driving connection is thus provided between the armature shaft of motor 49 and shaft 45, it being understood that sprocket wheel 58 is rigid on shaft 45'. The tension on driving chain 59 may be adjusted by means of a bolt 8| which is threaded.

into a tapped opening in the motor base plate 5|, the head of said bolt resting on cross bar 38.

Sprockets aiearco The bolt 5i serves to support one side of the motor base plate, and by adjusting the position of the bolt in said base plate the tension on chain 59 may be varied as desired.

Before giving an explanation of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the carrier, I shall briefly describe the novel system of refrigeration which is provided for cooling the bottles in such a way that a dry, cold bottle is always dispensed to the operator. This system of refrigeration may be employed for cooling machines of various types, and forms the subject matter of application Serial No. 55,531 filed by James T. Smith under date of December 21, 1935 (Patent No. 2,160,760, issued May 30, 1939).

Referring to Figs. 3 and 12, the general plan of refrigeration involves the circulation of dry cooled air around the bottles while they are supported on the movable carrier, the air being cooled by passing it over an enclosed cooling element. In accordance with this general scheme, there is provided adjacent the rear wall l6 of the cabinet a cooling unit 62 which comprises a comparatively "fiat liquid-tight receptacle consisting of spaced sheet metal walls 53 (Fig. 8). This receptacle is cooled by passing a refrigerant, such as methyl chloride, through a coil 64 which is connected at one end with the suction side of a compressor 65 (Fig. 3), the other end thereof connecting with a condenser 66. The compressorcondenser unit 55, 66 is mounted on top wall 22 of the cabinet and is enclosed by a sheet metal casing El which rests on said top wall 22. This compressor-condenser unit may be of conventional form, the unit shown being driven by an electric motor 68 which has driving connection with the compressor 65 through a belt 69. A fan ll mounted on the motor shaft blows air through the condenser 65 toeffect cooling of the refrigerant.

Continuing the reference to Figs. 3 and 12, air is circulated through the cabinet along the path indicated by the arrows in Fig. 12 by a blower 12, which may be of conventional form, the one shown including a rotor 13 having blades 14 projecting therefrom. A sheet metal housing forms a blower compartment which is divided by a partition member 16 into intake and discharge sections which are indicated by the numerals TI and 18, respectively. The rotor iii-is turned in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, said rotor being connected by a belt is with a pulley 8| which is secured to the crank shaft of the compressor 65. Air driven from the discharge section 18 of the blower 72 passes downwardly over the bottles 37, as indicated by the arrows 82 (Fig. 3). The air which is thus driven by the blower downwardly over the bottles is directed from the bottom of the cabinet to the suction side 11 of the blower by a vertically disposed baffle plate 83, which is mounted in the cabinet parallel to, and adjacent, the back wall I6 and slightly in front of cooling unit 62.

It will be noted from Fig. 12 that plate 83 ex tends downwardly nearly to the bottom of the cabinet, leaving a comparatively narrow passage 84 through which the air is sucked upwardly along avertical channel 65, in which cooling unit 62 is positioned. Passing upwardly along channel 85 the air moves over the cooled walls 63 and is effectively cooled, the walls 63 of the cooling unit 62 presenting a considerable surface area over which the air must pass. When the air reaches the top of channel '85 it is directed forwardly into a channel 86, whence it passes to the intake section I! of the blower I2. The channel 86 is formed by a vertically disposed partition wall 81 which joins with a horizontally disposed partition wall 88. In order to prevent transmission of heat to the air asit passes through the blower 72, there is provided around the inner wall 15 thereof a layer of insulating material 89 (Fig. 3), which is enclosed by a sheet metal jacket 9|.

One of the important features of this refrigerating system involves" the usein the cooling unit' 82 of a hold-over fluid which is comparaa tively easily frozen. Machines of this type are usually used extensively by purchasers during the daytime and are used comparatively little at night. In other words, they are subject to periods of peak demand. In order to effectively meet the cooling requirements for the period of peak demand, a hold-over medium such as water is used, which, during the period of minimum use of the machine, may be frozen to ice. The latent heat of fusion of the ice, whichv corresponds to the amount of heat which is absorbed from the air in the-cabinet to effect melting of the ice, thus providesmuch greater cooling power than would be provided by an ordinary brine solution, for example, which, during the period of minimum demand, would merely be cooled to a low temperature without actually being reduced to a solid. It-will be evident that this refrigerating system will effect dry cooling of the bottles, so that the purchaser always receives -a dry cold bottle. Any moisture in the air which condenses on the walls of the cooling unit 62 does not come into contact with the bottles since said unit is positioned at the back of the cabinet and is separated from the bottle compartment by plate 83.

The mechanism for removing a bottle from the carrier and discharging it from the cabinet to the customer will now be ,described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 4, 7 and 8. The front wall I of the cabinet is provided with an opening 92, in which is positioned a downwardly inclined sleeve 93 which is formed of Bakelite or other suitable heat insulating material. The

inner end of sleeve 93 registers with an opening 94 formed in a heavy frame plate 95 which is hung from the upper front cross bar 38. Said sleeve 93 is locked in position in the cabinet'wall by a pair of rings 96 and 91, which are separated by a gasket 98. A bottle passing from the cabinet through sleeve 93 is received in a cup or receptacle indicated generally by the numeral 99. This receptacle consists of a metal face plate IOI, which is secured to the cabinet wall I5, the lower portion of said plate being provided with a forwardly projecting shelf I02 having ,a pair of spaced rubber covered prongs I03 (Fig. 11) projecting from the upper edge thereof, said prongs being a cross bar I06, the latter being connected at its opposite ends by rivets I01 to arms I 08, each, of

said arms I08 being pivoted by shoulder screws I09 to frame brackets III. In the normal position of the parts, shown by the solid lines in Fig. 7, it will be noted that the fingers I05 extend beyond or overlap shoulders IIZ (Fig. 6)

which are formed in the bottle supporting trays 29, said shoulders being formed in the trays by cutting away portions of the metal therefrom to provide openings somewhat wider than the fingers I05.

. In Fig.7 three of the trays 29 are shown. It will be apparent that as a tray passes from the position of the uppermost tray of Fig. 7 downwardly around shaft 45 to the position of the intermediate tray in said figure, a bottle resting on the tray will impinge against the ends of the downwardly inclined fingers I05, and upon continued downward movement of the carrier, will be rolled from the tray along the fingers I05 onto a curved plate II3, the position of a bottle on said plate II3 being indicated by the dot and dash circle I I 4 in Fig. 7. The shouldered portions II2 formed in trays 29 are sufficiently deep so that there is no interference between the tray and the ends of fingers I05, the latter merely serving to roll the bottle from the tray as the latter moves downwardly around shaft 45. It will be further noted from Fig. '7 that the fingers I05 and their supporting bar I06 may be swung as a unit upwardly from the solid to the dotted line position of said figure, thereby allowing the bottle carrier to be moved to any .desired position without permitting the bottles to be removed as they pass the discharge station. I

A lever. I00, fulcrumed at I20 to the frame, and having pin and slot connection at I with one of the arms I08, may be grasped and pulled downwardly to throw fingers I 05 and bar I05 to the dotted line position of Fig. 7. In this position of the parts the trays may be reloaded by the proprietor as they move downwardly through the space normally pccupied by the fingers I05. Coil springs II5, connected at one end to arms I08 and at the other end to pins H6, yieldingly hold said fingers I05 in either the operative or inoperative position, depending upon where they have been placed by the operator.

The arrangement of the fingers I05 so that they may be thrown to inoperative position, particularly facilitates reloading in cases where it is desired to have a reserve supply of the articles of merchandise on the carrier after the regular supply has been exhausted. For example, as will presently appear, in the vending mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, means is provided for preventing fur ther operation of the machine after the supply of bottles on the carrier has been reduced to a certain number, say for instance, twenty bottles. When this occurs the proprietor may throw fingers I05 to inoperative position and then advance the carrier until the twenty bottles have passed the discharge station, whereupon he may proceed to fill the'empty trays as the carrier advances to move them across the discharge station. When the last. of thetrays has been filled the first bottle of the reserve supply will be back to the discharge station and will be the first one dispensed after the machine is restored to operation. Where refrigeration is provided for the cabinet in which the vending mechanism is contained the reserve supply will always be cold and I am thus able to reload'in such a way that the first bottles dispensed after reloading will be taken from this cold supply. Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, the

curved plate H3 which receives the bottle from spring IZI, connected at one end to a lip I22 on one of the brackets M6, and at the other end to an adjustable bolt I23 carried by plate I I8, tends to pivot said plate H3 in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 8, to hold. it in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 8, in which position it is adapted to receive a bottle from the fingers I05. The discharge opening 94 formed in plate 95 is normally closed by a fiber gate plate I24. This gate plate is pivotally connected to the forward end of plate M3 by a pair of lugs I25 which are spaced on said plate I24 in position to be received between lugs I26 which project downwardly from the forward ends of brackets IIEl, said lugs I26 being provided with pins I21 which are received in slots I 28 formed in lugs 25. The lower edge of said gate plate H4 is provided with a second pair of lugs E26 which are positioned immediately adjacent a pair of correspondingly spaced plates I3I, the latter being secured to plate 95 by bolts I532. The lower pair of lugs I25 are provided with pins I38 which engage in rearwardly inclined slots I 34 formed in plates I 3 I. In the position of these parts shown in Fig. 8, gate plate I24 completely closes the discharge opening 94 in plate 95. When, however, a bottle rolls from fingers I05 onto plate I I 3, the latter pivots downwardly under the weight of the bottle in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 8, to assume the position shown in Fig. 11, this downward swing of plate i I 3 under the weight of the bottle being retarded by coil spring IZI.

It will be noted. from Figs. 8 and 11 that during this downward swing of plate H3 gate plate I24 has been shifted. downwardly to open discharge opening 94, thus permitting the bottle on plate II3 to slide therefrom through opening 941 and sleeve 93 onto the receiving receptacle I02. During this movement gate plate I24 follows the rearward swing of plate I i3, being guided in its movement by pins I33 which 'move along guide slots I34. As soon as the bottle slides from plate II3 through the discharge opening spring- I 2| swings the plate I I3, together with gate plate I24, back to the position shown in Fig. 8, in which position the discharge opening 9 6 is closed.

To prevent a person from forcing gate plate I24 open by reaching through the sleeve 93, I provide notches I35 near the upper ends of slots I34. A person attempting to force gate plate I24 open would push inwardly thereon and also would attempt to force said plate downwardly. When this is attempted the pins I 33 slip into notches I35 and are locked by said notches against further downward movement, thus positively preventing movement of said gate plate I24 to'the open position.

A description will now be given of the coin controlled mechanism which is provided for operating the carrier drive motor 49 to bring the bottles successively to the discharge station. Referring particularly to the wiring diagram of Fig. 13, a coin introduced into a coin slot I36 (Fig. '1) formed in a coin slot plate I31 which is supported on the front of the cabinet, falls downwardly along a chute I38 which directs it between an arm I39 and one arm I of a switch I42, the coin coming to rest between said arm I39, and a fiber strip I43 which is carried on the lower end of arm I 4I. The other arm of switch I42 is indicated at I44. Switch I42 completes a circuit through carrier drive motor 49, this circuit being traced from a lead I45, which connects with a source of power supply, through a terminal block I46 and a wire I41 which connects with switch arm i4I. From this point the circuit is carried through switch arm I44, and a wire I48, to a terminal block I49 which is connected by a wire I5I to one side of the motor 49, the return from motor 49 being through a wire I52 to a terminal block I53, the latter being connected by a lead I54 to the other side of the power supply. As long as a coin is held in the position of the coin I55 (Fig. 13) switch I42 remains closed and motor 49 operates to advance the bottle carrier. The coin i released from this position to stop the carrier by the closing of a circuit through the coil of an electromagnet I56 which is supported on a shelf I51. The vertically disposed arm I39-which engages the coin I55 is joined to a horizontally disposed arm I 58 which is pivotally supported at I59 to shelf I57. The arm I58 constitutes the armature of electromagnet I56, so that when the latter becomes energized said arm I58 is pulled downwardly with the result that arm I39 is moved to the left, viewing Fig. 13, a distance suihcient to release coin I55 from switch arm I4I. The energizing circuit for electromagnet I56 is controlled by a mercury switch which is indicated generally by the numeral NH. The mechanical parts which operate this switch will be presently described in detail. The switch itself consists of a sealed mercury-containing tube I62, one terminal of which is connected to lead line'I54 through a wire I63 and terminal block I53. The circuit to the other terminal of said switch I6I is traced from lead line I45 through terminal block I46 and wire I41 to a wire I64 which connects with one end of the coil'of electromagnet I56, the other end of said coil connecting with a wire I65 which leads to a terminal block I66, the latter being connected to switch I6I through a wire I61. So long as switch I6I is in the inclined position shown in Fig. 13, the energizing circuit for electromagnet I56 remains open and arm I39 remains in coin "retaining position. However, when switch I6I is tilted to horizontal position by a mechanism presently to be described, a circuit .is closed through electromagnet I56 and arm I58 is pulled downwardly to effect release of the coin I55, thereby opening the circuit through motor 49 and stopping movement of the carrier.

Continuing the reference to Fig. 13, the free end of arm I58 is provided with a laterally projecting pin I68 which extends into coin chute I38. So long as electromagnet I56 remains deenergized, as shown in Fig. 13, arm I58 is so positioned that pin I68 will direct a coin along chute I38 into circuit closing position between arm I39 and switch arm I4I. When, however, electromagnet I56 is energized pin I68 is moved downwardly to the dotted line position indicated by the numeral I69. In this position said pin will prevent a coin from passing downwardly in chute I38 to circuit closing position between arm I39 and switch arm I4I, such a coin being deflected laterally in chute I38 along a branch chute III which returns the coin to an exposed receptacle. I12 (Fig. 1) formed in coin slot plate I31, from which it may be removed by the operator. So long as electromagnet I56 is ener-,

gized it thus becomes impossible for the operator to efiect movement of the carrier, a coin introducedinto the coin slot during this interval being returned to the operator without effecting closing of the circuit of carrier drive motor 49. The purpose of this is to prevent movement of the carrier to effect release of a bottle therefrom until the previously dispensed bottle has had an opportunity to pass through the discharge opening in the cabinet and, as will presently appear, mechanism is provided for holding switch I6l in the closed circuit position-until a bottle delivery has been completed.

An auxiliary mercury controlled switch I13 is provided for energizing electromagnet I56 independently of the switch I6I. This switch, which 'is adapted to be closed after a prescribed number of bottles have been dispensed from the machine, as will more fully hereinafter appear, is connected in circuit with the wire I65, which leads from the electromagnet I56, through terminal block I66 and a wire I14. The return from switch I13 is through a wire I15 and a'wire I16, the latter connecting with wire I63 which leads to terminal block I53 and lead line I54. This circuit through switch I13 and electromagnet I56 isindependent of the circuit through switch I8I and electromagnet I56, so that the latter may be energized by either one of these switches, even though the other one may be open.

A pilot light I 11 ismounted on the front of the cabinet immediately behind a glass covered opening I18 (Fig. 1) formed in coin slot plate I31. The circuit for this light is arranged to be energized when the last bottle which may be obtained from the machine has been dispensed.

This circuit is controlled by a mercury switch I19 which, as will presently appear, is closed simultaneously with the closing of switch I13. The circuit through pilot light I11 is traced'from lead wire I through terminal block I46, and wire I41, to a wire I8I, the return from the light being through a wire I82, a terminal block I83, and a wire I84 to one side of switch I19. The other side of this switch connects through a wire I85 with wire I 16, the latter, in turn, connecting through wire I63 and terminal block I53 with lead line I54.

A description will now be given of the mechanism which operates the mercury switches I6I,

I13 and I19, reference being had to Figs; 7, 8 and 9. The tube I62 of switch I 6| is mounted in a clip I86 which is secured to a plate I81, the latter being pivoted at I88 to a frame bracket I89. The lower edge of plate I81 is provided with a. notch I9I. A pin I92 carried by bracket I89 extends into said notch to limit the tilting movement of plate I81 and switch .I6I, the latter being overbalanced on pivot I88 so that it normally pivotally connected by a pin I99 to plate I81, the

lower end of said link being pivotally connected at 20I to an arm 202 which forms an integral-part of arm I94.

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that strip I91'on the lower ends of arm I93, I94 is positioned in the path of a bottle roiling downwardly along fingers I05 to plate H3. The open circuit position of the parts is indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 'I, a coil spring 203, connected at one'end to arm I94, and at the other end to 9. lug 204 on the frame, serving to urge said arms in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. ."I. A cam lug 205 formed on the upper end of arm I94 engages a cross rod 200 on the frame to limit the movement ofarms I93, I94 under the action of spring 203. A bottle rolling downwardly along fingers I05 will strike against strip I91 to move said strip and the arms I93, I94 from the solid to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7. In pivoting to this position arm I94 raises link I98 which, 'in turn, tilts plate I81 a slight distance in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9, to effect closing of switch I6I. The closing of this switch, as previously explained, energizes electromagnet I56 to release the coin, thereby-deenergizing the carrier drive motor 49. As long as this switch remains closed the operator cannot restart the motor by putting a coin in the coin chute, such coin being returned through branch chute "I (Fig. 13)

The above described mechanism for closing switch I6I is effectiveto hold the switch in closed position only during a portion of the interval in which the bottle remains on plate II3. It will be apparent from Fig. 11 that as the bottle slides from the dotted t0 the solidline position in said figure, it will move clear of strip I 91 'at about the time when the bottle is half way through the discharge opening in the plate 95. As soon as the bottle clears strip I91 spring 203 would norinally act to return switch I6I to open circuit position. To prevent the opening of I the switch at this time, and to insure that the same will be held closed until the bottle has cleared the discharge opening 94 in plate 95, and until gate plate I24 has returned to the closed position of Fig. 8, I provide mechanism for holding link I98 and plate I81 in switch closing position until the bottle has entirely cleared plate I I3. In the embodiment shown this mechanism consists of a link 201, the lower end of which is pivoted at 208 to one of the brackets IIO, the upper end of said link being slotted to receive a pin 209 which is carried by a lever 2| I, the latter being fulcrumed on frame plate I89 by a pin 2I2. An arm 2I3 of lever- 2 extends through a slot 2I4 (Fig. 7) formed in link I98. In moving from the solid to the dotted line position in Fig. '7, the arms I93 and I94 raise the link I98 to effect closing of switch I6I and during this movement lever 2I I is pivoted in a clockwise direction, viewingFig. 10. This, however, has no eflect on link 201 by reason of the pin and slot connection formed between the upper end of said link and lever 2I I. Switch 16] may thus be closed by arms I 93, I94 independently of lever 201. -When, however, plate II3 swings downwardly under the weight of a bottle link 201 is lowered and when the slotin the upper end thereof engages pin 209, said link holds lever 2| I in the position shown inFig. 1 1, in which position switch I6I is closed. Link 201 and lever 2| I thus serve to maintain switch I6I closed"- until a bottle has cleared plate II3 so that the latter is free to beraised to position for receiving the next bottle. The dual control for switch I6 I thus insures that the carrierdrive motor will remain deenergized until a bottle has actually passed through the discharge opening 94 in plate 95. J amming of the bottles is thus positively prevented. inasmuch as the operator must wait until one bottle is delivered before he can operate the carrier to effect a second delivery.

The mechanism for operating the shut off switch I13 and the pilot light switch I19 will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 9, 10 and 11. These switches are secured by clips 2I5 to a rocker plate M6, the opposite sides of which, 7

are bent downwardly to provide brackets 2I1 and '2I8, said brackets being apertured to receive a .shaft 2I9 which is carried by the upper end of a frame post 22I, the latter including a laterally projecting frame arm 222 which connects with the frame plate use. Bracket an is notched as .to receive a locking cap 24I.

indicated at 223, said notched portion engaging a pin 224 carried by post 22I to limit the tilting of plate 2H5 on shaft 2I9. A coil spring 226 extending between shaft 2I9 and a pin 226 pro- Jecting downwardly from plate 2 I5 urges the latter in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9, to hold one edge of the notched portion 223 against pin 224, this position of the parts, which corresponds to the open circuit position of switches I13 and I19, being shown in Fig. 9. The inner bracket 2I1 is provided with an extension 221 which carries a laterally projecting lug 228. A short shaft 229 is Journalled for free turning in a bearing 23I (Fig. 10) which is formed in post 22I. An arm 232 is fixedly secured to shaft 229, said arm being of such length that when turned to vertical position it will strike the outwardly projecting lug 229 carried by the rocker plate ex tension 221. The arm 232 and shaft 229 are urged in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 10, by a heavy coil spring 233, one end of which is connected by a screw 234 to arm 232, the other end of said spring being fixed to bearing 23I on the frame.

The end of shaft 229 which projects outwardly from post 22I carries a pawl arm 235 which rotates freely on an enlarged portion 236 of the shaft. A ratchet wheel 231 is mounted for free rotation on the shaft immediately adjacent pawl arm 235, and a dial 238 is positioned on the shaft immediately adjacent ratchet 231. A pointer 239 is provided at its center with a squared opening which fits over a squared portion 240 on shaft 229. The outer end of shaft 229 is threaded When this cap is screwed into position it firmly clamps ratchet 231, dial 238 and pointer 239 against the shoulder as a unit with shaft 229, but leavingthe pawl arm 235 free to turn independently of said shaft.

Pointer 239, which is fixed on shaft 229, is diametrically disposed with respect to arm 232, this being clearly shown in Fig. 9. In the embodiment shown the dial 238 is divided into ninety-five divisions which correspond to the capacity of the bottle carrier, these divisions being numbered by fives, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. As previously stated, dial 238 and arm 232 are both fixed to shaft 229 and are diametrically disposedwith respect to one another. Dial 238 carries a stop plate 242 (Fig. 8) which is provided with a pro jecting lug 243 which is located slightly to the left of the mark 95 on dial 238.- In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 8 and 9, pointer 239 is set opposite the number on dial 238, in which position of said pointer arm 232 is disposed seventy-five spaces in a counterclockwise direction from the position in which it will strike against lug 228 to tilt plate 2I6 to circuit closing position. Therefore, with the pointer 239 set opposite the numeral 20, seventy-five step movements of ratchet wheel 231 and dial 238 in aclosed to turn on the pilotlight Q11. Under these conditions twenty bottles will remain in the carrier, these bottles constituting a hold-over supply. This is one of the important features of the invention. A number of bottles may be retained in the machine after a given number have been dispensed, 'so that after the machine has been refilled and restored to operation the first bottle which will be dispensed will be one taken from the hold-over supply and will, therefore, always be cold. Of course, if it were desired to dispense the entire supply it would merely be necessary to set pointer 239 opposite the 95 mark on dial 238, in which case arm 232 would not strike lug 228 to deenergize the motor until the entire supply of bottles had been dispensed. The setting of pointer 239 is accomplished by merely loosening the locking cap 24I which frees the dial 238 and ratchet wheel 231 from shaft 229. With these parts thus released pointer 239 may be set opposite the desired number on dial 238, it being understood, of course, that during this operation dial 238 is held in the position shown in Fig. 8, in which tooth 243 thereon rests against a stop pin 244, said stop pin projecting from a plate 245 which is supported from frame post 22I. Plate 245 also carries an index plate 246 (Fig. 8) having an arrow 241 thereon which points toward dial 238 to indicate to the operator the position of the dial. By subtracting the number opposite pointer 239 from the number opposite the fixed pointer 241, the proprietor can tell exactly the number of bottles which may be dispensed before the circuit for the carrier drive motor will be opened to prevent further operation of the machine.

Dial 238, ratchet wheel 231 and arm 232 are advanced one step toward circuit breaking position for the motor 49 each time a bottle is dispensed from the machine. As will be noted from Figs. 8, 9 and 11, the free end of pawl arm 235 is provided with an adjustable screw 248 which is positioned in the path of movement of lug I22 on the bottle supporting bracket IIIl. When bracket III) is pivoted under the weight of a bottle from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 11, lug I22 strikes screw 248 on the end of ratchet arm 235, moving the latter a slight distance in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9. Pawl arm 235 carries a pawl 249 which is held by a coil spring 25I against the teeth of ratchet wheel 231. Each time that bracket I I0 tilts downwardly to carry lug I22 against screw 248, ratchet wheel 231 is turned by pawl 249 one step in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9, to carry dial 238 and arm 232 one step or space toward circuit breaking position. There is thus a regular step-by-step movement of arm 232 toward circuit breaking position, which movements are timed with the bottle vending operations so that after the allowed number of bottles have been dispensed the end of arm 232 will move against lug 228 to close switch I13 and open the motor circuit.

As shown in Fig. 9, dial 238 may be turned to zero position when it is desired to refill the machine by means of a lever 252 which is fulcrumed at 253 to plate 245. A coil spring 254 extending between one end of lever 252 and plate 245 holds said lever 252 in the substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 9. A pawl 255 carried by plate 245 engages the teeth of ratchet wheel 231, being yieldingly held in contact therewith bya coil spring 256 which extends between plate 245 and a pin 251 on said pawl which projects through a slot 258 formed in plate 245.

This pawl prevents a counterclockwise turning of ratchet wheel 231 and dial 238 under the action of spring 233. If the proprietor desires to reset dial 238 to zero position, he merely pushes downwardly on an arm 259 which is carried on one end of lever 252. A downwardly projecting portion 26I on lever 252 is thus moved against pin 251 and withdraws pawl 255 from the teeth of ratchet wheel 231, allowing the latter, together with dial 238, to be returned to zero position under the action of spring 233. Pawl 249 is removed from ratchet wheel 231 at this time by engagement of lever 252 with a pin 250 which project inwardly from said pawl.

The operation may be summarized as follows:

. The proprietor firstloadsthe carrier by opening door 26 and pulling downwardly on lever I90 to throw arms I05 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. '7. The circuit through motor 49 is then closed by closing a manually operable switch 262- (Fig. 11) which shunts the coin-controlled switch I42. The carrier will then be moved continuously in the direction of the vertical arrows shown in Fig. 3 and the bottles may be'loaded on the trays 29as they move downwardly past the discharge station opposite the swinging plate II3. After the carrier has been fully loaded switch 262 is opened to shut 011 the carrier drive motor and lever I is raised to throw fingers I95 back to the position shown by the solid lines shown in Fig. 7. Pointer 239 (Fig. 8) is then set opposite the number on dial 238 corresponding to the number of bottles which it is desired to retain in the machine as a hold-oversupply. The machine is then locked' and ready for. use. A coin introduced through coin slot I36 (Fig. 1) closes switch I42 which energizes the carrier drive motor 49 and starts' movement of the carrier to bring a bottle on one of the trays 2 9 (Fig. 8) opposite the discharge station where it is engaged by fingers I05 and rolls downwardly onto the swinging plate II3. In moving onto this plate the bottle strikes arm I91, swinging the latter' from the solid to the dotted line position shown in Fig. ,7, which operation raises link I98 and tilts mercury switch I 6I (Fig. 8) to circuit closing position. electromagnet I56 to open the circuit for the carrier drive motor 49 and at the same time pin I68 (Fig. 13) is moved into position to block the portion of coin chute I38 which directs a coin to switch I42. As plate II3 swings downwardly under the weight of a bottle from the position shown in -Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 11,

' link 2.01 is pulled downwardly to hold switch I61 in closed circuit positionsaid switch thus remaining closed to prevent a succeeding energize.- tion of the carrier drive motor from the time the bottle strikes arm I91 until the time it slides from plate H3 through-the discharge opening 92. As said plate II3 swings downwardly it also carries gate plate I24 from the closed position shown in 'Fig. 8 to the open position shown in Fig. 11 to allow the bottle to slide through sleeve ,93 to the shelf I02 from which it may be removed by the customer. As soon as the bottle has cleared plate II3 the latter is returned by spring I 2I to the normal position shown in Fig. 8, thus allowing switch I6I to fall back to open circuit position, which, in turn, deenergizes electromagnet I56 and opens the coin chute to permit a coin to be directed downwardly along chute I38 to switch I 42. Each time that plate II3 swings downwardly to deliver a bottle, lug I22 actuates The closing of this switch energizes pawl arm 23.5120 turn dial238 and arm 232 one step in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 9.

The above cycle of operations is repeated each 9 rier drive motor. Switch I13 remains closed so long as arm 232 rests against lug 228 and electromagnet I56 thus remains energized to hold pin I68 in coin obstructing position in the coin chute I38. Itis thus impossible for the operator to close the switch-for the carrier drive motor by inserting a coin, and further operation of the machine is prevented until it is restored to operating condition by the proprietor. The mercury switch I19 (Fig. 9) is closed simultaneously with the closing of switch I13 to energize pilot light I11 (Fig. 9) which lights up the opening I18 (Fig. 1) in the front of the machine and gives the proprietor, as well as the customer, a. Waming that the machine can no longer be operated to obtain a bottle. At thisv time twenty bottles will still remain on the carrier, these bottles constituting a reserve supply so that on the first operation, after the carrier has been reloaded,

the customer will receive one of the cold bottles taken from this hold-over supply.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I What I regard as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a refrigerated vending machine, an insulated cabinet, vending mechanism supported in said cabinet, said mechanism including means for supporting a plurality of the articles to be vended and means for dispensing said articles individually from the supporting means through a discharge port in the cabinet wall. and means operated by said dispensing means for preventing further operation of the vending mechanism after the number of articles in the machine have been reduced to a predetermined number but while a substantial number of articles remain in the machine, said vending mechanism including a drive motor and said last-mentioned means comprising a control member adapted to be set before operation of the machine is begun and to be. advanced toward effective position by, successive vending operations and electrical means including a switch adapted to be actuated by said control member upon reduction of the number of articles in the machine to said predetermined number to prevent further energizing of the drive motor until said control member has been reset, as upon reloading of themachine.

2. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vend ed, means for moving the carrier to successively present said articles to a-discharge port in the cabinet wall. coin-controlled means for starting operation of said carrier moving means, means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said discharge port, means for stopping the carrier upon removal of an article therefrom, and means operated by said transferring means for preventing further operation of the carrier by said coincontrolled means after a predetermined number of articles have been dispensed.

3. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vended. a motor for moving the carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, coin-controlled means for energizing said motor to start movement of the carrier, means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said discharge port, means for deenergizing the motor to stop the carrier upon removal of an article therefrom, and means operated by.

said article transferring means for preventing reenergization cf the motor by said coin-controlled means after the number of articles in the machine have been reduced to a predetermined number but while a substantial number of articles remain in the machine.

4. In a refrigerated vending machine, the combination of an insulated cabinet, a carrier provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vended, coin-controlled electricallyoperated means for moving the carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge station, means for dispensing the articles when presented at said station, means for stopping the carrier after an article has been presented 'to the discharge station, and mechanism for preventing further operation of said coin-controlled means to operate said carrier after the number of articles in the machine have been reduced to a predetermined number but while asubstantial number of articles remain in the machine, said mechanism comprising electrical means including a switch adapted to be actuated through action of said dispensing means when the number of articles in the machine is reduced to said predeterminednumber to prevent further operation of said carrier-moving means until the mechanism has been reset, as upon reloading, said mechanism also including a. control member which may be set in various positions to change the point at which said mechanism will be operated.

5. A machine for vending merchandise in bottled or package form comprising, in combination, a carrier provided with a plurality of holders arranged to support the bottles in spaced relation on the carrier, a motor for moving said carrier to successively present said holders to a discharge station, coin-controlled means for energizing said motor to start movement of the carrier, means for deenergizing said motor to stop the carrier after a bottle has been presented to the discharge station, and stop mechanism for preventing further energization of the motor by said coin-controlled means after the number of articles in the machine have been reduced to a predetermined number but while a substantial number of articles remain in the machine, said mechanism including a control member which may be set at various positions to change the number of bottles which may be dispensed before further operation of the carrier is prevented.

6. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vended, means for moving the carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, coincontrolled means for starting operation of said carrier moving means, means for transferring thearticles from the carrier to said discharge port, means operated by said article transferring means for stopping the carrier upon removal of an article therefrom, and additional means operated-by said transferring means for preventing further operation of the carrier by said coin-controlled means after the number of articles in the machine have been reduced to a predetermined number but while a substantial number of articles remain in the machine.

7. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet, a motor for moving said carrier to successively present a series of articles supported thereon to a discharge port in the cabinetwall, coin-controlled means for en ergizing said motor to start movement of the carrier, means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said discharge port, and stop mechanism for preventing closing of the motor circuit by said coin-controlled means after a predetermined number of articles have been dispensed, said mechanism including a circuit breaking device, a rotatable element having a member thereon for engaging said device to open the motor circuit, said element being adjustable to permit setting of said member a predetermined distance away from circuit breaking position, and means operated by said article transferring means for returning said element by step movements toward circuit breaking position.

8. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vended, means for moving said carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, and means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said dis charge port comprising a downwardly inclined bar positioned to engage and. remove an article from its support on the carrier as the article is moved downwardly against the upper end of said'bar, and a pivoted trough member positioned to receive an article moving along said bar and to swing downwardly under the weight of the article to a position in which the article will slide therefrom into the discharge port in the cabinet wall.

9. In a vending machine, a cabinet, 2. carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a series of the articles to be vended, coin-controlled means for moving said carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, a downwardly inclined bar positioned to engage and remove an article from its support on the carrier as the article is moved downwardly against the upper end of said bar, a trough member positioned to receive an article moving downwardly along said bar and to swing downwardly under the weight of the article to a position in which the article will slide therefrom into the discharge port in the cabinet wall, means actuated by an article passing along said bar for stopping the carrier, and means operated by said trough member for holding said stopping means in position to prevent restarting of the carrier by said coin-controlled means until the article has been transferred into the discharge port in the cabinet wall.

10. In a vending machine, a cabinet, 9, carrier port on the carrier as the article is moved downwardly against the upper end of said bar, a pivoted trough member positioned to receive an article moving downwardly along said bar and to swing downwardly under the weight of the article to a position in which the article will slide therefrom into the discharge port in the cabinet wall, a circuit breaking device adapted to be actuated by an article passing along said bar to deenergize thecarrier drive motor, and means operated by said trough member for holding said device in circuit breaking position to prevent restarting of the carrier drive motor by said coincontrolled means until the article has been transferred into the discharge port in the cabinet wall.

11. In a vending machine, a cabinet, vending mechanism supported in said cabinet, said mechanism including means for supporting a plurality of the articles to be vended and means for dispensing the articles individually from said supporting means through a discharge port in the cabinet wall, a gate plate normally positioned to close said discharge port, said plate being adapted to be moved by the dispensing mechanism to open position when an article is directed to the discharge port, and means whereby pressure applied externally to said plate will lock the same against opening and thus prevent pilfering from the machine, said means including a device rendered eifective by such pressure for resisting opening movement of said gate in the plane thereof as well as for resisting any substantial movement transversely of said plane.

12. In a vending machine, a. cabinet, a carrier 'mounted in said cabinet and provided with means for supporting a plurality of the articles to be vended, means formoving said carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said discharge port including a trough member pivotally supported adjacent the carrier in. position toreceive an article therefrom and to swing downwardly under the weight of the article to a position in -which the article will slide therefrom into the discharge port in the cabinet wall, a gate plate normally positioned to close said discharge port, said plate being .adapted to be moved by said trough member to open position when the latter moves into position for directing the article into said discharge port, and means for locking said gate plate over the discharge port when pressure is applied externally to said plate in an attempt to force it to open position.

13. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said-cabinet and provided with means for supporting a plurality of articles to be vended, means for moving said carrier to successively present said articles to a discharge port in the cabinet wall, means for transferring the articles from the carrier to said discharge port including a member movablymounted adjacent the'carrier in position to receive an article therefrom and adapted to move downwardly under the weight of the article to a position in which the article will slide therefrom into the discharge port in the cabinet wall, and a gate normally positioned to close said discharge port, said gate being adapted to be moved by said member to open position when the latter moves into position for directing the article into said discharge 1 po t.

14. In a bottle vending machine, an insulated cabinet having a downwardly and outwardly'inclined discharge port in one of its vertical walls, an endless carrier in said cabinet, including means to support a plurality of bottles with their longitudinal axes horizontal and transverse to said carrier, and adapted to successively present said bottles to a position adjacent and above said port, and means for transferring said bottles to said port, comprising a trough pivoted on an axis transverse to itslongitudinal axis and positioned normally ina substantially horizontal position substantially parallel to the axes of said bottles with one end above said port, said trough being adapted to swing downwardly under the weight of a bottle to an inclined-position aligned with said port, and means for causing a bottle to move in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis from the carrier to said trough.

15. In a bottle vending machine, a cabinet having a discharge port in a vertical wall, an

endless carrier in said cabinet, a horizontal shaft over which a reach of said carrier travels down wardly, said carrier including means to support a plurality of bottles in position parallel to said shaft, and means for transferring said bottles to said port, comprising a trough pivoted on an axis transverse to its longitudinal axis and disposed normally in a substantially horizontal position with one end above said port, said trough being adapted to swing downwardly under the weight of a bottle to an inclined position aligned with said port, a bottle being adapted after passing over said shaft to move in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis, from the carrier into said trough.

16. In a vending machine, a cabinet, a carrier mounted in said cabinet and provided with.

have been dispensed. I g

' BERT E. M1115. 

